If Reuben Kathiripillai had been shocked to be called up for national training, he was even more surprised to discover he was included in the national squad to Canberra to play Australia in a friendly match on Friday.
Reuben has not played senior-level football for two years and was preparing to wind his season down when first Olympic team coach Ong Kim Swee and then national coach K. Rajagobal called him up to their respective squads.
The 21-year-old Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia student had impressed in his captaincy of the national university team at the World University Games in China recently.
The 21-year-old Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia student had impressed in his captaincy of the national university team at the World University Games in China recently.
His versatility in being able to play in defence, midfield and attack was a major attraction to Rajagobal, who gambled on including the uncapped Reuben and Terengganu's Joseph Kalang Tie in place of dropped Selangor midfielders Safiq Rahim and Amirulhadi Zainal.
"I am very happy, this is totally out of the blue," said Kajang-raised Reuben, who is presently without a team after his contract with the Selangor President's Cup side ended.
"I had no idea I would be included in the squad to Australia as I didn't think I did very well. I was a little slow in picking things up and I still think I need to improve on my decision making.
"I had no idea I would be included in the squad to Australia as I didn't think I did very well. I was a little slow in picking things up and I still think I need to improve on my decision making.
"I've also not played high level football for two years and when you only play in the President's Cup, you fall into a comfort zone.
"But I will continue to work hard and if I get a chance to play, whether it is in defence, midfield or attack, I'm not going to complain," said Reuben, whose preferred position is centre-back.
Reuben did well in a defensive holding midfielder role in a 45-minute appearance in the national team's 3-0 win over the national Sea Games trainees in a friendly match at Wisma FAM on Sunday with Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Baddrol Bakhtiar and Shahrizal Saad scoring.
"He has not played much and he needs to be playing regularly," said Rajagobal of Reuben.
"He did well in China and since he did not have a team, we thought it would benefit him to call him up."
Sarawak-born Joseph, who played against Chelsea for a Malaysian Selection, Zubir Azmi and Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria are the other uncapped players in the squad, which sees 12 changes from the national team's last competitive outing in a 1-1 draw with Singapore in a World Cup qualifier in July.
Besides Safiq and Amirulhadi, others dropped were strikers Hadi Yahya and Ahmad Fakri Saarani, goalkeeper Sharbine Allawee Ramli and midfielders Ashaari Samsudin and Ismail Faruqi Ashari.
Defender Fadhli Shas is unavailable due to his loan spell with Slovak club ViOn Zlate Moravce while Kuala Lumpur right-back Shahrom Kalam tore a hamstring in training to be excluded along with KL goalkeeper Norazlan Razali and Young Tigers A striker Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim.
Returning to the squad after recovering from injury are Norshahrul and centre-back Norhafiz Zamani Misbah while Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, top-scorer in the Malaysia Cup with six goals, is also back after impressing with Kedah.
The squad -- Goalkeepers: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Kelantan), Farizal Marlias (Negri Sembilan).
Defenders: Muslim Ahmad, Mahali Jasuli (both Young Tigers A), Asraruddin Putra Omar (Selangor), Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (Negri), Farisham Ismail (Kelantan), Faizal Muhammad, Zubir Azmi (both Terengganu).
Midfielders: Amar Rohidan, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri (all Kedah), S. Kunanlan (Negri), Joseph Kalang Tie (Terengganu), K. Gurusamy, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria (both Tigers A), Yong Kuong Yong (Kuala Lumpur), K. Reuben (UKM).
Forwards: Safee Sali (Pelita Jaya), Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (Kelantan), Izzaq Faris Ramlan (Tigers A), Shahrizal Saad (Johor FC).
No comments:
Post a Comment